A. E. W. Mason

“ At last, thanks to a practical experience of sheep farming, combined with a mind scientifically trained, he, Reuben Clinch, had discovered the great secret. The dying of cloth would be simplified, the processes, the machinery of the Yorkshire factories would be superceded, the whole industry would be revolutionized. Colossal fortunes would be made, and prices would be lowered for the public. I seemed to be listening to a great commercial epic. The man was magnetic. He made me see the great discovery in the great, wide aspect in which it appealed to him. ”

“ He looked towards me, and looked away again. "You? No. You don't! But, Speedy! What of you, eh?"
"I, only, know the secret," Clinch repeated. "I will explain to you now three-quarters of the process. The other quarter I keep to myself until you come into the scheme."
"That's fair," said Pratt.
"I will confess to you that the three-quarters will be of no help to any man who does not know the rest."
It seemed to me a dangerous plan. But I looked at Clinch. He had no hesitation, no fear. He leaned back in his chair, perfectly secure that no one of his hearers would penetrate his secret. ”

“ It was astonishing with what confidence Reuben Clinch made his unlikely request. It was still more astonishing, I think, that I was actually able to comply with it. Fortune was once more siding with the masterful. For one of my few friends was a prosperous wool merchant in the City of London, Mr. Ralph Speedy. I knew little of the commercial side of Speedy 's life, but was aware that he held a high reputation and that his opinion was thought of value in his trade. ”

“ Speedy was quick to act once he had made up his prudent mind. A house was taken, furnished, near to the Marble Arch, and overlooking Hyde Park. It was a good house and well furnished. "We must do the thing well," said Speedy. "No parsimony and no fireworks." Servants were engaged, an excellent cook—upon that point Speedy laid the greatest stress—a butler and a footman. Within a fortnight of the visit to Dorking, Clinch was installed, and that notable series of dinner parties began which was to prelude the revolution in the woollen industry. ”

“ The dinner was in most respects a copy of those which had gone before. The samples of wool were sent round and examined. Some portion of the process was explained, and questions were invited by Clinch. One difference I noticed. There seemed more anxiety on the part of the questioners to know what would be the actual cost of the alterations they would have immediately to make in their businesses and factories than to estimate the subsequent profits which would follow when the process was in use.
"They seem to be niggling," I said to Speedy.
"They are the small men, you see," said Speedy. ”

“ I was crossing Westminster Bridge one November evening, about six o'clock, on my way to Waterloo Station. It was an evening of fog, although the fog was not dense. As I passed beneath a lamp post there came out of the fog towards me a man whom I seemed dimly to recognize. ”

“ I have been at the house all the morning. Not one of the servants knows a thing. There's not the merest scrap of writing that will give us any help."
"When did you first hear that he had disappeared?" ”